AR Racking, a global supplier of industrial storage systems, has strengthened its position with the recent renovation and expansion of the drive-in racking system for FruitMasters, one of the largest fresh fruit operators in the Netherlands. Thanks to the expertise and support of Begra, AR Racking’s official distributor in the region, the capacity and efficiency of more than 300 ULO cold storage rooms have been improved, preserving fruit from over 400 local producers.

In an environment with constant temperatures between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius, ultra-cold preservation of fruits such as Kanzi apples and Migo pears requires a precise and reliable storage system. AR Racking has applied all its engineering and technology expertise to ensure each installation meets the highest standards of durability and ease of maintenance, while also guaranteeing full compatibility with FruitMasters’ existing systems.

The partnership between Begra and FruitMasters is well established. During annual inspections, damage was detected in old racks with hard-to-find spare parts, prompting the decision to renew with AR Racking solutions, recognized for their quality and immediate availability of components. This feature allows for rapid replacement of any damaged parts, extending the lifespan of the installations and reducing costs.

“It is essential that the new racks are installed according to our specifications and compatible with the rest of the system. Thanks to the flexibility and robustness of the AR Racking solutions installed by Begra, we can operate with complete peace of mind and ensure the continuity of our operations,” says Dirk Jan Brommersma, Shipping Manager at FruitMasters.

Close collaboration with Begra was key to the project’s success, enabling the new racks to be installed according to FruitMasters’ technical requirements and ensuring a quick response to any support or parts replacement needs. For FruitMasters, this investment means being ready for the future, with robust and flexible systems that preserve product quality and freshness while optimizing energy efficiency and reducing operating costs.

Similar news

https://www.logisticsbusiness.com/materials-handling-warehousing/forklift-technology/case-study-fresh-fruit-and-veg-supplier-delivers-the-goods/

The post Ultra-cold Fruit Storage Efficiency Boost appeared first on Logistics Business.

Source link

The automotive industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by cutting-edge technological advancements and a shifting automotive landscape. However, it’s not just the technology that’s evolving – the roles that support this vital sector are also at a crossroads. While many positions remain essential today, some are at risk of disappearing entirely.

New data from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has uncovered the driving jobs facing complete shortages in the next 25 years. By conducting an in-depth study using search volume analysis, it has been revealed that in the next 12 years, the UK could face a shortfall of delivery drivers as the industry battles to prioritise investment and training.

Delivery driver jobs are at risk of a shortage in the next 12 years

According to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are currently 246,000 delivery drivers employed across the UK. However, an estimated 30,000 additional drivers are needed to meet growing demand in the sector.

Projections based on average monthly Google search trends suggest that delivery driver roles could experience a full shortage by 2037, as people explore different job options. With over 13,500 delivery driver vacancies in April 2025, this has surged by 792.6% compared to last year. Among the top companies hiring are Yodel, Tesco and Royal Mail, indicating that the most popular jobs relate to food delivery, online e-commerce deliveries, and supermarket shopping.

To address the growing shortfall and potential decline, the industry must prioritise investment in training and development programmes to make the profession more appealing.

Methodology

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts used Keywordtool.io to identify the auto industry jobs which require a driving license had the highest average monthly search volume in the past 12 months, and what the average trend was over the last 12 months of search. They then used Google Trends and Glimpse to identify what job trends looked like over the past 5 years with search volume, and extrapolated the date that searches for these jobs would become extinct, to reveal the industries most at risk of shortages.

Similar news

https://www.logisticsbusiness.com/transport-distribution/last-mile-delivery-trends-for-2023/

The post Online Deliveries Could Grind to a Halt appeared first on Logistics Business.

Source link

Bananas – the most popular fruit in European supermarkets – often travel over 9,000 kilometers and spend nearly a month in transit before reaching our shelves. To arrive fresh, ripe, and affordable, they rely on tightly controlled logistics from farm to store.

From ripening chambers in Rotterdam to refrigerated containers crossing the Atlantic, Girteka Logistics experts explain what it takes to bring exotic fruits like bananas and avocados to tables across Europe.
How Long Does It Take for Bananas to Reach the Stores in Europe?

The time it takes for fruit to reach Europe depends largely on its country of origin. Oranges grown in Spain may arrive in neighbouring markets within a week or even less. But for bananas and avocados sourced from Central or South America, the journey can stretch up to 30 days. Shipments from Asia take even longer — up to a month and a half.

According to Vytautas Oleškevičius, Central European Regional Manager at Girteka, each fruit’s journey involves numerous steps and players along the way. “Avocados are a great example,” he says. “Europe consumes over 1.1 million tonnes of avocados each year. They’re typically grown on small farms, where the growers sell them to exporters. The exporters wash and prepare them for sale, then importers handle logistics to bring the fruit to Europe. Only after all customs procedures are completed do European resellers step in, buying the needed quantities and asking us to transport them.”

Exotic fruits aren’t the only items crossing continents. If you take a closer look at product labels, you’ll find that even vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, or potatoes can be imported from outside the EU. What may be more surprising is the scale of fruit logistics – in 2024 alone, Girteka transported over 7,000 tons of watermelons across Europe — the equivalent of more than 300 fully loaded trucks.

Keeping Fruit Fresh Across Continents

The journey of bananas from South America to store shelves in Europe requires highly coordinated work involving farmers, suppliers, and logistics companies. Girteka has already delivered over 14,000 truckloads of fruit to 30 European countries this year — more than 300,000 tons. The challenge is not just distance, but maintaining exact transport conditions. Even minor temperature changes can affect fruit quality.

“Our job is to assess and manage all potential risks,” says V. Oleškevičius. “For example, there’s always the risk of pallets or boxes being damaged at some transfer point. Customs inspections must also be considered, and some delays are out of our control. Containers sometimes have to wait three or four days due to heavy traffic. We call these the ‘known unknowns.’ Identifying them helps us address the challenges more effectively.”

It starts in Rotterdam

Most exotic fruit arrives at Rotterdam — Europe’s largest port, handling 400 million tons of cargo annually. Here, companies like Girteka take over. Fruits are sent to logistics centres and loaded onto refrigerated trucks driven across the continent. Even before this, the fruits are already being prepared for the final consumer. On ships, they are kept in containers with temperatures close to zero degrees Celsius.

“Bananas are usually cut while still completely green — totally inedible at that stage,” – says Mantas Briedis, a sales manager at Girteka Logistics. “They must remain unripe throughout the Atlantic journey, or they’d spoil before reaching Lithuania. In Rotterdam, importers place them in ripening chambers. The ripening process continues in the truck, and by the time the truck reaches the stores, the bananas are almost fully ripe.”

What’s Easy vs. What’s Difficult to Transport?

According to experts, the complexity of the process depends on the type of fruit. Fruits vary significantly in sensitivity. Bananas and avocados are relatively easy to transport, which explains their global popularity. Berries, on the other hand, are much more delicate and require highly responsible logistics operations.

“One of the products we transport from Peru is blueberries,” M. Briedis explains. “They’re very delicate, so maintaining the right temperature is an added challenge we take seriously. Because berries spoil faster, they are often flown to Europe rather than shipped. Citrus fruits are also tricky — they’re highly sensitive to condensation. If moisture builds up, the fruit starts to rot.”

In such cases, speed and precision become critical. Drivers play an essential role, ensuring temperature-sensitive cargo is delivered as quickly and safely as possible to prevent spoilage and waste.

The Silent Success of Fruit Logistics

Despite the complexity and numerous risk factors, modern logistics chains operate with remarkable efficiency. Today, it’s almost unimaginable that a store in in any European country would run out of bananas. “The fact that consumers don’t even think about how exotic fruits reach them is the best proof of how smoothly the whole process works,” says Girteka’s logistics expert Mantas Briedis.

Behind every banana, avocado, or box of blueberries is a sophisticated network of farmers, exporters, customs brokers, logistics planners, and drivers working in sync. Their coordination ensures that even fruits grown thousands of kilometers away arrive ripe, fresh, and ready to eat — right when we expect them to.

Similar news

Banana Ripening Facility Completed at London Gateway

The post Banana Logistics – 9000km to your Basket appeared first on Logistics Business.

Source link